News in Saturday’s edition about 152 job-seekers enrolling in Hospitality First Training and Education was encouraging. There have been complaints that too many jobs being created as the island continues to recover from catastrophic Hurricane Irma are going to foreigners.
However, it’s important to equip locals with the necessary knowledge and skills to fill these vacancies. At the same time, participants in the programme get a stipend and transportation to help keep them going.
As stated earlier, the paid courses at Hillside Christian Schools Asha Stevens campus and National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) for those left un- or underemployed after many of St. Maarten’s visitor accommodations were severely damaged proved heaven-sent in terms of mitigating the natural disaster’s dire social consequences. This was also recognised when the private sector initiative backed by government was approved for grants from the Dutch-sponsored Reconstruction Trust Fund managed by the World Bank.
Some may wonder whether persons starting their six-month training now won’t be too late for positions becoming available. After all, Sonesta Maho Beach just – partially – reopened for guests, preceded by adjacent Sonesta Ocean Point and Royal Islander, while various other resorts are also back in business or have returned to full capacity.
Nevertheless, plenty more workers will still be needed in the near future. Major properties that remain largely empty include Wyndham Sapphire, The Cliff, Royal Palm, Flamingo Beach and the Westin hotel.
Moreover, it was reported on Friday that the building permit for a 450-room Planet Hollywood Resort on Great Bay Beach will soon be approved and put up for public review. There had been some concern about the project’s continuation primarily due to the broad and far-reaching package of incentives requested by developer Sunwing of Canada, including a soft loan of US $43 million.
Hopefully, whatever problems might have existed over the details were ironed out, allowing for this crucial venture that should again help put “The Friendly Island” with its tourism economy squarely on the international travel map.
